A few weeks ago I told you all about the Maker Mentors Conference coming up online. I will be talking about optimizing your day for creativity and I am so excited. I am even more excited to announce that I am giving away a ticket ($200 value) to one lucky reader! Woohoo!

To enter just comment below with one thing that keeps your creativity from flowing. It can be anything from comparing yourself to other artists, lack of sleep, fear, etc. I want to know! I have written my section for the conference already and would love to tweak it based on your responses.

Go here to learn more about the conference: makermentors.org. Giveaway ends Thursday night at midnight (PST). Winner will be announced on this post on Friday, May 8th, 2015.

Winner announced!!!

It is Dionne Siegrist. Congratulations, Dionne!

I will be in touch shortly. I loved reading everyone’s responses. I feel like I could offer a whole course to help everyone deal with their creative blocks. Hmmm…. maybe in the future! (The winner was pick using Random.org)

26 comments on “Win A Ticket To Maker Mentors!”

Oh Kerry – hands down it has to be getting in my own way. I have so many dreams that I could pursue; however, I always find myself stopping MYSELF before I even really get started. Fear of failure AND success are the culprits.

First THANK YOU Kerry for this awesome opportunity! I think fear of failure, and fear of making a mistake keeps my creativity from flowing. It’s a HUGE mental block for me. I think we (makers) can be our own worst enemies! Thanks again Kerry!

Thanks for hosting this opportunity! Stress in general but financial worries in particular make me want to hide under the blanket for a week. Nothing will kill my vibe faster than fretting over how the bills are going to get paid. It’s so draining that there’s nothing left over for creativity.

Other commenters have touched on the things I fight with daily, from comparing my work to others, feeling like there is nothing new I can create, or just being overwhelmed with where to start. A big problem I am noticing recently is editing my ideas in my head before I start making. This ends up with nothing being created, which is never good!

I think for me, the biggest issue I have is getting my work seen. I struggle so much with SEO and trying to write up my products in such a way that they will come up on searches – often writing and re-writing listings over and over again – that it takes away from the time that I could spend designing and learning new skills. I have so many ideas that I never get around to implementing because I am always spinning my wheels on this one issue and it is very discouraging to have a great product that you know your audience will love if only they see it but not be able to figure out how to make that happen. *sigh*

Can “life” be my answer? To be more specific, not having enough space (hard to DIY in an apartment) but I could say that it boils down to lack of motivation. I know that being more creative is what I need in my life, I’m just not sure how to execute.

For me it would be exhaustion, both physical and mental. I’m trying to start up an extremely part time business doing crocheting and quilting. I have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome and don’t know how I’ll feel from one day to the next. When I’m extra tired I find it hard to even focus on reading a pattern, let alone actually doing the work! I need to accept this and not push myself, because when I push myself I make mistakes, and don’t enjoy what I’m doing.

I think there are a few reasons, but the biggest has to be lack of confidence in myself! Even though I know I can be successful, and have been several times, there’s still that nagging fear of failure in the back of my head. I get into my comfort zone and don’t want to push myself. Which is so dumb because I’m happiest when I’m creating! I teach art full time to K-8 and constantly push my students to be their best and use their creativity. Yet when it comes to myself I don’t listen to my own advice.

I feel like I’m cheating because you mentioned it in your email, but definitely chronic pain issues, leading to lack of sleep which then leads to delays in anything I may have planned.
Regardless, Thanks for the opportunity to be chosen! 🙂

My biggest hinderance to flowing creativity is my day job. However much I enjoy doing it on one hand, it does take me away from feeling truly free to be inspired and to daydream. I try to write down ideas and small sketches between clients but it just isnt the same as going to my studio space and letting the ideas come:-)

I always find ways to keep my creative work going no matter what the obstacles. I steal spare moments from wherever I can find them. If I can’t find them I get very cranky and resentful. Sometimes I just have to make stuff to feel ok with the world, you know what I mean? But actually this becomes the catalyst for losing the creative flow. I pile a bunch of tasks on myself, and justify it because it is for the purpose of my creative pursuits, but there is no room for free-stylin’. Having the time to play with ideas, make messes and create massive failures can only lead to bigger and better ideas.

Fear. Without a doubt. I am having some issues with my hands that can (& will be) solved with a simple outpatient procedure. I work a demanding full time job and want to do my business part time. I worry about money I divert for supplies, about time away from my family, about space taken for me in a small cottage….basically anything and everything every other woman here has already spoken to.

My lack of organization stifles my creativity for two reasons. One because i tend to drive myself crazy trying to find things I need for the project and two i cant focus because i know i should be organizing…its a vicious circle!

One obstacle is worrying I’m letting others down if I don’t finish their projects first (messy house for family, errands for work, unfinished sewing projects for customers, etc.). My creativity often lands on the back burner.